Dust and
Neon

Dust and Neon (2023) is a shooting game set in a futuristic wild west where you play a lone gunslinger taking on robots. It takes the twin-stick (one for movement and one for aiming) shooting play in a more considered direction, as you work to stay close to enemies for accuracy and use the time-slow mechanic to make sure every shot counts.

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You play a cowboy in a futuristic, apocalyptic wild west overrun with tyrannical robot crooks. With a range of revolvers and pistols, you set out on a mission to restore peace to the land. To do this you hunt down robots from area to area, clearing them from homes, bars, towns and the expansive desert countryside.

As you progress you get to know each weapon's benefits and drawbacks. But unusual for this kind of game, you must outmanoeuvre as well as outshoot your robot enemies. Specifically, keeping the distance between you and your target ensures greater accuracy of your weapon. But of course, makes you more prone to enemy fire as well. When you die, you start at the beginning but with access to the weapons, potions and elixirs you found in the previous run.

The result is a game that subverts the usual quick-and-dirty twin-stick shooting with slow-down and accuracy mechanics that encourage consideration and strategy over reflexes.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Dust and Neon 13 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 9 months ago.